Diatom Mysteries

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KurtM
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Diatom Mysteries

#1 Post by KurtM » Wed Feb 27, 2019 2:32 am

This diatom form beats everything I've ever seen. I first ran across it three years ago, and have been trying to pin an ID on it ever since. Although it appears sizable enough, and robustly silicified, it is seldom seen after a boiling H202 cleaning procedure. The benthic sample in which it is found makes it the very devil to separate from mineral micro-silt. So I have been experimenting with an abbreviated cleaning regimen, and picking individuals off the desiccated results to make type slides. Because it means I end up with arrangements, I must mount in Naphrax, when I'm much more comfortable working with Pleurax.

The above is the oversimplified version of what I've been working on lately, but what I wanted to show is two things: first, that micro-manipulating can be a relaxing diversion, and secondly, why I keep saying how much I value broken diatom valves.

Looking at the intact valve, note the raphae appear split, or doubled. Why? Well, now look at the broken valve, and it's readily evident that the structure resembles half lap woodworking joinery.
Attachments
a 2-24-19 micro manipulator.jpg
a 2-24-19 micro manipulator.jpg (132.92 KiB) Viewed 3262 times
b 2-24-19 arrangement.jpg
b 2-24-19 arrangement.jpg (143.91 KiB) Viewed 3262 times
c 2-24-19 mystery diatom 1.jpg
c 2-24-19 mystery diatom 1.jpg (316.43 KiB) Viewed 3262 times
d 2-25-18 mystery diatom 2.jpg
d 2-25-18 mystery diatom 2.jpg (285.5 KiB) Viewed 3262 times
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/

PeteM
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Re: Diatom Mysteries

#2 Post by PeteM » Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:01 am

Wonderful quality images, Kurt.

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75RR
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Re: Diatom Mysteries

#3 Post by 75RR » Wed Feb 27, 2019 6:21 am

Agree! Especially like how rotation provides different detail.

Single images?
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MichaelG.
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Re: Diatom Mysteries

#4 Post by MichaelG. » Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:29 am

KurtM wrote:... but what I wanted to show is two things: first, that micro-manipulating can be a relaxing diversion, and secondly, why I keep saying how much I value broken diatom valves.

Looking at the intact valve, note the raphae appear split, or doubled. Why? Well, now look at the broken valve, and it's readily evident that the structure resembles half lap woodworking joinery.
Nice work, Kurt
That's a very informative image.

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

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KurtM
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Re: Diatom Mysteries

#5 Post by KurtM » Wed Feb 27, 2019 4:36 pm

Thank you, all! 75RR, both images are stacks, as the valves stand around 9 µm in profile (and you know all about the 63/1.4 Planapo DOF). The second image was inverted after desaturating to better represent detail.
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/

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zzffnn
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Re: Diatom Mysteries

#6 Post by zzffnn » Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:16 am

Nice images, Kurt!

That micromanipulator looks less complex than the ones we looked at before, but looks like it is working well for you!

I don't think a complex fluidic manipulator is necessary, unless you really want to compete with people like Klaus Kemp, Michel or Beats.

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